Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Dasmarinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Dasmarinas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Cebu versus $502 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Cebu versus $750 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Cebu versus $998 in Dasmarinas.

Living in Cebu is roughly 86% more expensive than in Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Dasmarinas 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 ₱193

$4.10 ₱257

-24.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.80 ₱1,490

$16.57 ₱1,037

43.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₱257

$2.76 ₱173

48.55%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$1.78 ₱111

46.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₱97.0

$0.59 ₱37.08

162.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.49

$0.31 ₱19.38

74.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.01 ₱63.4

71.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱137

$1.57 ₱98.2

39.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱120

$1.40 ₱87.4

37.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.2

$1.11 ₱69.6

25.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.9

$0.70 ₱43.81

38.57%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$1.82 ₱114

9.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱621

$5.01 ₱313

98.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱274

$3.46 ₱216

26.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 ₱464

$4.68 ₱293

58.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$2.23 ₱140

55.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.8

$1.60 ₱100

-8.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.44 ₱153

-1.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.6

$1.05 ₱65.7

46.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$1.70 ₱106

38.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.75 ₱110

9.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₱77.4

$0.62 ₱38.65

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.47

$0.50 ₱31.20

32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₱188

$2.92 ₱183

2.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ₱381

$9.07 ₱568

-32.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱81.9

$0.90 ₱56.4

45.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱108

$2.01 ₱126

-13.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.67

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱797

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.84

$0.79 ₱49.39

-5.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.25 ₱15.69

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 ₱288

$1.89 ₱118

143.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱83.8

$0.98 ₱61.2

36.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

0.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-1.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$121 ₱7,572

$48.99 ₱3,067

146.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.86 ₱930

$17.37 ₱1,087

-14.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.84 ₱1,743

$23.85 ₱1,493

16.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.06 ₱2,007

$33.47 ₱2,095

-4.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.43 ₱403

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ₱353

$5.10 ₱320

10.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$273 ₱17.1K

$136 ₱8,490

101.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,017 ₱501.9K

$10.8K ₱677.1K

-25.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.77 ₱3,053

$28.71 ₱1,797

69.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₱1,596

$19.82 ₱1,241

28.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 ₱4,889

$71.5 ₱4,478

9.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.8 ₱3,621

$55.4 ₱3,470

4.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱31.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ₱18.8K

$48.46 ₱3,034

518.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 ₱68.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,888 ₱180.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,877 ₱117.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

$357 ₱22.4K

-3.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.4

12.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cebu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dasmarinas pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $17.00 in Dasmarinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $161 per month, with Dasmarinas cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cebu vs Dasmarinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dasmarinas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Dasmarinas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $936 per month in Cebu versus $502 in Dasmarinas – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $502 in Dasmarinas versus $936 in Cebu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dasmarinas but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Dasmarinas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Dasmarinas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cebu and Dasmarinas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.